The Atlanta Braves are the 2019 NL East Champions!

Rejoice fans! The Atlanta Braves have officially clinched the 2019 NL East Division title.

Despite the fact that most “Experts” were bearish on chances of repeating and that some fans were bemoaning the state of the team after a successful 2018 season, the Atlanta Braves have come out and proved them all wrong by winning the NL East crown again after a 6-0 shellacking of the San Francisco Giants on Friday night.

True: there were bumps in the road.  The 2019 season didn’t start pretty… but it didn’t stay that way for long.

We all remember briefly panicking after the opening weekend where the “new and improved” Phillies with Bryce Harper had their way with us. It was also then that we had our first glimpse of a Braves bullpen that would be up and down more than your favorite ride at the local Six Flags over Georgia.

The Braves then came back to Atlanta and started doing something that they have continued until this very day:  winning at home.  The team got right back on track and got to work.

Seemingly everything was ho-hum until Ender Inciarte went down with an injury in mid-May and Austin Riley was called up. For the first 30 games or so in his career, he was one of the best power hitters in the game and was a big part of the late May success the Braves had. Even though his production has waned since, its important to keep that in mind.

This was also right around the time the Braves endured a bunch of rough outings from Mike Foltynewicz and Kevin Gausman. The Braves withstood, and eventually cast off Gausman to the Reds while Folty was demoted.  Obviously – after 8 stellar shutout innings tonight – he is back and pitching extremely well.

The Braves needed rotation help at that time, and after the draft, signed one of the big name free agents still looking for work… that of course being Dallas Kuechel.

Keuchel has been outstanding and looks ready to lead the Braves rotation in October. Hopefully his playoff experience will be valuable.

Summer Relief

Let’s fast forward a bit to around the All-Star break where the Braves were starting to feel a little heat from the Nationals, but oddly both teams’ bullpens were pitching terrible.

While the two teams were playing on July 31st, both teams added 3 relievers, and much like the entire season, the Braves easily ended up with the better arms. Those of course being Mark Melancon, Shane Greene, and Chris Martin. Those three along with other adjustments have stabilized the bullpen.

Waiver claims were the story of August and players that the front office acquired for money essentially played a huge role and in turn the Braves caught fire at the end of August and early part of September essentially icing the division for the second year in a row.

The funny thing is we haven’t even mentioned Freddie Freeman or Ronald Acuna. It’s fair to say everyone knows the roles they have played for this team. And yes, I’m still leading this bandwagon that Freddie Freeman should be the NL MVP.

More players to shout out include Josh Donaldson who some fans gave up on after the first two months, but he showed after the middle of June why he is still one of the better players in the entire league and why almost everyone associated with the Braves unanimously now want him back for the 2020 season.

Still hoping something for that is worked out QUICKLY after the season concludes.

Lastly, Mike Soroka and Max Fried deserve a mention as they were the leaders of the pitching staff until Dallas Kuechel arrived. They both pitched outstanding and while the results have come back to earth slightly, quite frankly, how could they not?

Break out the Bubbly

So Braves fans…enjoy this one. For the second straight year, we weren’t supposed to be here, but yet here we are.

Honestly, I feel much better about this team’s post-season chances than last year. I’m not saying we are about to go on a roll like the 90’s and early 2000 Braves, but I think its fair to say we are the team everyone will be chasing for the next few years.

Keep in mind, this team’s work is far from done. Congratulations to the Atlanta Braves!  Let’s go make some noise in Choptober!